The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-06-10

Iads, ana TO Jeremy, wnen ne compared
them 10 his life as it had been before Ernest
came, they seemed perfectly heavenly. For
whether IL was that he had improved in his
manners since then, or that Ernest stood as
buffer between him and Mr.. Cardus, IL GER
tainly happened that he came into collision
with him far less often. Indeed, it seemed 10
Jeremy that the old gentleman dt was the
fashion 10 call Mr. Cardus old, though he
was in reality only middle aged was more
tolerant Of him than formerly, though he
knew that he would never be a favorite As
for Ernest, everybody loved the boy, and
then, as efterward, lie was great favorite
with women, who would one and all do any
thing he asked. 1t was a wonder that he did
not get spoiled by it all; but he did not. IL
was not possible to know Ernest Kershaw at
any period of his life without taking fancy
to him. be was so eminently and unaffectedly
n gentleman, and so completely free from
any sort Of swagger. Always ready 10 do
kindness, and never forgetting one done,
generous with his possessions 10 such an ex-
tent that he seemed TO have a vague idea that
they were the common property Of his friends
and himself, possessing that greatest Of gifts,
n sympathetic mind, and true as steel, no
wonder taat he was always popular both
with men and women.
He grew into a handsome lad, too, did Ern-
est, as soon as he began to get his height, with
n shapely form, u beautiful pair OF eyes
and an indescribabe appearance of manli.
ness and spirit But the greatest charm Of
his face was always its quick intelligence and
unvarying kindliness.
As for Jeremy, he did not change much; he
simply expanded, and to tell the truth ex-
panded very largely. Year by year his form
assumed more and more enormous propor-
tions, and his strength grew more and more
abnormal. As for his mind, it did not grow
with the same fapidity and was loath to ad-
nit new idea. But once it was admitted 1t
never came out again.
And he had ruling passion, too, this dull
giant, and that was his intense affection and
admiration for Ernest. 1t was an affection
that grew with his growth till it became
part of himself, increasing with the increas-
ing years, till at last it became nearly pathetic
In its entirety. 1t was but rarely that he was
away from Ernest, except, indeed, on those
occasions when Ernest chose to go abroad to
pursue his study of foreign languages, Of
which he was rather fond. Then and then
only Jeremy would strike. He disliked part
ing with Ernest much. but he disliked-being
intensely insular-to cohubit with foreigners
more; so on these occasions, and these only,
for while they parted.
So the years wore OH till, when they were
Is, Mr.. Cardus, after his sudden fashion, an
nounced his intention of sending them both
to Cambridge. Ernest always remembered
it, for it was on that very day that he first
made the acquaintance of Florence Ceswick.
He had just issued from his uncles presence,
and was seeking Dolly to communicate tho
intelligence to her, when he suddenly blum
deped in upon old Miss Ceswick, and with her
young lady. This young lady, TO whom
Miss Ceswick introduced him as her niece at
once attracted his attention. On being intro
duced, the girl, who was about his own age,
touched the outstretched palm with her slen-
der fingers, throwing on him at the same
moment so sharp look from her brown
eyes that lie afterward declared to Jeremy
that it seemed to go right through him. She
was a remarkable looking girl. The hair,
which curled profusely over a shapely head,
was, like the eyes, brown; the complexion
olive the features small, and the lips full,
curving over beautiful set of teeth. In
person she was rather short, but squarely
built, and at her early age her figure was
perfectly formed, Indeed, she might, to all
appearances, have been much older than she
was. There was little of the typical girl
about her While he was still observing her,
his uncle came into the room and was duly
introduced by the old lady to her niece, who
had, she said, come to share her loneliness.
"And how do you like Kestarwick, Miss
Florence3" asked Mr.. Cardus, with his usual
courtly smile.
at is much what expected little duller,
perhaps" she answered composedly.
"Ah, perhaps you have been accustomed to
gayer spot"
"Yes, till my mother died we lived at
Brighton. There is plenty of life there. Not
that we could mix in it, we were too poor;
but at any rate we could watch it.n
"Do you like life, Miss Florence7'
ayes, we only live such short time. I
should like" she went on throwing her head
back and half closing her eyes, "to see as
much as l can and to exhaust every emotion"
perhaps, Miss Florence, you would find
some of them rather unpleasant" answered
Mr.. Cardus with smile
"Possibly, but it is better to travel through
bad country than to grow in a good one."
Mr.. CarduS smiled again, the girl interested
him rather.
"Do you know, Miss Ceswick," he said,
changing the subject and addressing the
stately old lady, who was sitting smoothing
her laces and looking rather aghast at her
niece's utterances, that this young gentle
man is going to college, and Jeremy, tooln
"Indeed," said Miss Ceswicl1, II hope that
you will do great things there, Ernest
While Ernest was disclaimiug any inten-
tons of the sort Miss Florence cut in again,
raising her eyes from a deep contemplation
of that young gentleman's long shanks, which
were writhing under her keen glance and
twisting themselves serpentwise round the
legs of the chair.
Il did not know" she said, that they took
boys at college"
Then they tool, their leave, and Ernest
stigmatized her to Dorothy as "beast.n
But she was at least attractive in her own
peculiar fashion, and during the next year or
two he got pretty intimate with her.
And so Ernest and Jeremy went up to
Cambridge, but did not set the place on fire,
nor were the voices Of tutors loud in their
praise. Jeremy, it is true, rowed one year in
the Varsity race, and performed prodigies of
strength, and so covered himself with sort
OF glory, which, personally being of a modest
mind, he did not particularly appreciate.
Ernest did not even do that But somehow,
by hook or by crook, they, at the termination
of their collegiate career, took some sort of
degree, and then departed from the shores of
the Cam on which they had spent many a
jovial day-Jeremy to return to Kesterwick,
and Ernest to pay several visits to college
friends i'll town and elsewhere.
And so ended the first little round of their
davs.
To BE CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT,